Sometimes a Girl Needs to Borrow Superman’s Cape

Sometimes a Girl Needs to Borrow Superman’s Cape, courtesy of Adobe Spark

Sometimes a Girl Needs to Borrow Superman’s CapeSometimes a girl just needs to borrow Superman’s cape.

Any girls or guys relate?

Shoulders back. Head and chin up. I trust it fits.

A few heroines sport capes. However, those won’t do. There’s a need to stand tall. To fly. To take on something bigger than my wildest dreams and shoot for the moon.

I’ve never hit the moon.

But, a daily selection of wrinkle-free capes already hang in my wardrobe.

My Capes

Independent cape: You won’t find want-ads in the local newspaper. I work alone. I’m not part of a superhero team. No sidekicks or aspiring heroes necessary. Besides, I save myself, my family, and save the day.

Comic book cape: My life’s captured and illustrated on colorful pages. Children and collectors everywhere marvel at my cape-wearing stories. I perform heroic feats and villain knock-outs then receive the adoration. Hero worship.

Dual role cape: Meshing my real life with my heroine life proves tricky. Wife, mom, employee, friend, disciple of Christ, mentor, writer, speaker, blogger, and dreamer. Rescues and cooking dinner all in a day’s work and attainable. A friend and former employer assured me, “Karen, you’re a machine!”

Archenemy-fighting cape: An archenemy (Lucifer) threatens to destroy my world and my family. Girl Friday to the rescue! “Pow!” “Shazam!” Don’t mess with me.

Backstory cape: I have a story. There are days I must remember my roots and where I came from. Like Superman discovering his powers. Who am I? Where is my identity found?

Disguise cape: This cape matches well with my mask-wearing mood. Fearful if I remove the mask, others will see the real me. Less than the heroine they expect me to be. But it stays freshly laundered and ironed. Or, I jeopardize a glimpse of the real me.

Sometimes a Girl Needs to Borrow Superman’s Cape, courtesy of Adobe SparkHero Capes

Research on superheroes and their costumes uncovered the cape holds no super power. When Superman flies, his cape flows in the wind but contributes nothing to flight ability. It never doubles as a plane wing, only part of the costume theme.

Many costume pieces play a vital role for enhanced abilities. Except the cape. Scratch any messages already sent Superman’s way. His cape is not needed. Hero-ness must lie elsewhere.

I’ve read stories about unsung heroes, a military veteran or a valiant member of society. Those with great courage. Yet, they remained unnoticed. Achievements buried underneath an idealized view that others did shoot for the moon and hit it. Better, with sharper aim and greater pizzazz.

[bctt tweet=”Unsung heroes live among us. A military #veteran or a valiant member of society. Those with great #courage who remain unnoticed. @FridayKaren” username=”inspireafire”]

But, more often than not, heroes sung about are moonstruck stories with little depth of sizable hero qualities that matter. Superficial capes hanging on the shoulders of superficial accolades.

Cape Not Needed

Supernatural powers and abilities are not warranted for a human hero. True heroes acquire the title by means of fighting crime, standing up for the helpless, dispersing freedom, and changing society for the better. They live among us.

And one man in history was both an unsung hero and divine rescuer. To this day, many fail to acknowledge and honor Him.

[bctt tweet=”One man in history was both an unsung #hero and divine rescuer. To this day, many fail to acknowledge and honor Him. @FridayKaren” username=”inspireafire”]

He still saves, performs heroic feats, knocks out villains, meshes real life with hero life, destroys the archenemy, and rescues the perishing.

Sometimes a Girl Needs to Borrow Superman’s Cape, courtesy of Adobe SparkHis backstory is rooted in supernatural power. He fights crime committed against His people.

He stands up for the helpless. And brings freedom to those in captivity.

Heroic excerpt about Him:When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not flow over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The fire will not destroy you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Who saves you.” Isaiah 43:2-3 (NIV)

The Lord has no need for a cape, disguise, mask or costume.

“Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength? ‘It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!’” Isaiah 63:1 (NLT)

Jesus has the power to save us spiritually. He also rescues me from my cape-wearing-self.

*Images: top photo of my dachshund, Sadie. Featured image and all other images courtesy of Adobe Spark. 

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Karen Friday

Whether the spoken or written word, Karen thrives in moving an audience to experience laughter, tears, surprise, and deep reflection. She not only possesses an affection for words (just ask her family), but she also cherishes God’s Word. Karen is an award-winning writer who has published both devotions and articles with a mission to know Jesus more and make Him known. She contributes to several national sites while she works on her first non-fiction book. In the blogging world, she is referred to as “Girl Friday” where she shares a central message: you are never far from hope. And she considers her life as a pastor’s wife and women’s ministry leader a sacred calling. Karen and her husband Mike reside in East Tennessee and have two grown children and two grandchildren. The entire family is fond of the expression, “TGIF: Thank God it’s Friday.” They owe Monday an apology. Connect with her blog community, Hope is Among Us.

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4 comments

  1. I needed this message today. Yesterday, I was trying to wear too many “capes” and ended up making a mistake. I have taken my burden to God and He is comforting me. All will work out according to His plan. Today, I am going to wear one less “cape”. I am turning my burden to Him. 🙂

  2. Melissa, thank you for sharing your experience. We all sport capes at times and try to rescue ourselves and others. Grateful, Jesus takes our burdens on His shoulders and rescues us from our cape-wearing.

  3. Wow Karen, it hit me well as I have an independent spirit and would try to wear any and every cape that came my way…before I realized it is out of surrender and admitting my true inadequacies that His strength and power is able to work through me. Exchanging my strength for His is still a journey in process. May we all take a step back and look at our lives while pondering on His Omnipotence. So many things in life we were not designed to carry, nor try to fly around with. We don’t carry the magical wand but He sure does!

  4. Great words and thoughts, Valerie. I agree, we tend to be independent when it should be I-in-dependence on God. Then we find the strength to endure what comes our way because it’s His strength. “Who is this in royal robes, marching in his great strength? ‘It is I, the Lord, announcing your salvation! It is I, the Lord, who has the power to save!’” Isaiah 63:1 (NLT)

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